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BIIB vs. SNY: Biogen vs. Sanofi Stock Comparison

How do Biogen (BIIB) and Sanofi (SNY) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Biogen (BIIB) and Sanofi (SNY) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but BIIB is classified in Biotechnology while SNY is classified in Pharmaceuticals.

Biogen (BIIB) trades as ordinary local shares, while Sanofi (SNY) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Biogen (BIIB) and Sanofi (SNY)
Profile ItemBIIBSNY
NameBiogen Inc.Sanofi ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesFrance
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryBiotechnologyPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryBiotechnologyPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization36.71 billion USD112.71 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateSeptember 17, 1991July 1, 2002
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BIIB
SNY
GSPC
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Sanofi (SNY), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Biogen (BIIB) and Sanofi (SNY). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Biogen (BIIB) and Sanofi (SNY). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and Sanofi (SNY)
MetricBIIBSNY
Total Return (1Y)65.44%2.73%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)4.62%6.89%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-0.96%3.16%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BIIB
SNY
GSPC
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Sanofi (SNY), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Biogen (BIIB) and Sanofi (SNY). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and Sanofi (SNY)
MetricBIIBSNY
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)34.58%23.60%
Beta (5Y)0.080.28
Max Drawdown (5Y)-64.35%-33.52%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.05M3.29M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BIIB and SNY are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and Sanofi (SNY)
MetricBIIBSNY
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.77-0.07
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.77-0.10

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Biogen (BIIB) at 1.87% and Sanofi (SNY) at 5.72% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.87%

Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
BIIB
1.87%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

5.72%

Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
SNY
5.72%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Sanofi (SNY) at 8.20% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Biogen (BIIB) at 3.38%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.38%

Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
BIIB
3.38%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

8.20%

Max
18.05%
SNY
8.20%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Biogen (BIIB) at 24.12% and Sanofi (SNY) at 30.89% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

24.12%

Max
83.12%
BIIB
24.12%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

30.89%

Max
83.12%
SNY
30.89%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and Sanofi (SNY)
MetricBIIBSNY
ROE (TTM)1.87%5.72%
ROA (TTM)4.94%5.31%
Net Margin (TTM)3.38%8.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)24.12%30.89%
Gross Margin (TTM)75.77%73.68%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Biogen (BIIB) at 2.22% and Sanofi (SNY) at 5.49% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Biogen (BIIB) at -21.38% and Sanofi (SNY) at 39.43% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and Sanofi (SNY)
MetricBIIBSNY
Revenue Growth (YoY)2.22%5.49%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.94%4.82%
EPS Growth (YoY)-21.38%39.43%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-25.04%6.02%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Biogen (BIIB) at 1.95 and Sanofi (SNY) at 1.12 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.95

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
BIIB
1.95
Min
0.10

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.12

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
SNY
1.12
Min
0.10
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Biogen (BIIB) at 0.41 and Sanofi (SNY) at 0.27 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.41

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
BIIB
0.41
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.27

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
SNY
0.27
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and Sanofi (SNY)
MetricBIIBSNY
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.951.12
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.410.27
Net Debt / EBITDA1.970.96

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Biogen (BIIB) nor Sanofi (SNY) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

BIIB
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

SNY
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Sanofi (SNY) reports payout ratio above 100% at 119.86%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings; Biogen (BIIB) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%).

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

BIIB
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

119.86%

SNY
119.86%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and Sanofi (SNY)
MetricBIIBSNY
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%119.86%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Sanofi (SNY) at 23.40 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Biogen (BIIB) at 107.51 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for BIIB’s trailing earnings.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

107.51

BIIB
107.51
Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

23.40

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
SNY
23.40
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Sanofi (SNY) at 2.21 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Biogen (BIIB) at 3.57 prices around its industry’s middle — SNY costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.57

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
BIIB
3.57
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.21

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
SNY
2.21
Min
0.01
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Sanofi (SNY) at 1.38 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Biogen (BIIB) at 1.94 is valued near its industry’s middle — SNY is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.94

Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
BIIB
1.94
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.38

Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
SNY
1.38
Min
-5.59
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and Sanofi (SNY)
MetricBIIBSNY
P/E Ratio (TTM)107.5123.40
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.572.21
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.941.38
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.20%7.17%